bodner068

This extremely educational and catchy tune was written by Lou Singer and Hy Zaret in 1959. Hy Zaret(who cowrote Unchained Melody)became interested in educational children's music in the late 1950s. He collaborated with Lou Singer on a six-album series called "Ballads for the Age of Science". The albums covered the subjects of space, energy and motion, experiments, weather, and nature. The records were quite successful, and the song "Why Does the Sun Shine?" aka "The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas"(I love that title)was even covered by They Might Be Giants in 1994 on a cd of the same name. I first heard this song at a summer camp and not only did the kids love the song but it was a favorite among the counselors as well! It is fun to sing and can even be put on as a sort of mini musical (costumes and all). The spoken parts are wonderful when said by one child or a counselor in an "announcer" type voice. The sun is a mass of incandescent gas ...

THERE was once a Prince who wished to marry a Princess; but then she must be a real Princess. He travelled all over the world in hopes of finding such a lady; but there was always something wrong. Princesses he found in plenty; but whether they were real Princesses it was impossible for him to decide, for now one thing, now another, seemed to him not quite right about the ladies. At last he returned to his palace quite cast down, because he wished so much to have a real Princess for his wife. One evening a fearful tempest arose, it thundered and lightened, and the rain poured down from the sky in torrents: besides, it was as dark as pitch. All at once there was heard a violent knocking at the door, and the old King, the Prince's father, went out himself to open it. It was a Princess who was standing outside the door. What with the rain and the wind, she was in a sad condition; the water trickled down from her hair, and her clothes clung to her body. She said she was a real Princess...